The aftermath of the battle weighed heavily on them as they ascended from the corrupted chamber, their steps slower, more deliberate. Every breath Elara took felt like fire in her lungs, and the exhaustion had settled deep in her bones. The air above the cave was crisp, but the sky was dark, hinting that another storm was approaching.
"I can't believe we made it out of there," Jarek muttered, running a hand through his sweat-soaked hair. His eyes flicked to the horizon, ever watchful. "It felt like we were fighting the abyss itself."
"It wasn't the abyss," Kirin replied, his voice low and grim. "It was something older… something far worse. And it's still out there, watching us."
Elara turned to him, eyes narrowing. "You felt it too?"